A little bit about us…
Richmond Ed Fund takes private capital, backs early-stage interventions in Richmond's education-to-workforce system, tests them rigorously, and, when the evidence is strong enough, makes the case for public adoption. The standard we hold every investment to: is this a path to students earning more?The model has a precedent. The Ford Foundation funded early childhood education experiments that became Head Start once the federal government saw the data. That's the arc we're running in Richmond: private capital proves what works, public dollars make it permanent.Richmond ranks among the bottom five metropolitan areas in the country for economic mobility.
Most RPS graduates leave high school without a confirmed path to a living wage, and the largest employers of our recent graduates are fast-food chains. RVA Builds is our bet that we can change that by connecting students directly to registered apprenticeships and skilled trades careers before they ever receive a diploma.
A little bit about the role…
We are hiring a senior leader to build and lead RVA Builds, a citywide apprenticeship pathway designed to connect students to meaningful careers before they graduate. This is a builder role in the truest sense. You will not inherit a fully formed program. You will shape how it works, align a complex network of partners, and drive execution toward a clear outcome: 500 Richmond students completing paid work-based learning experiences in skilled trades, particularly within construction pathways, by the end of the 2028–29 school year.
That's the number that makes the argument for public adoption undeniable, and building to it through outcomes and relationships rather than goodwill is the work.This role sits at the center of a highly visible, multi-stakeholder initiative spanning schools, employers, government, and philanthropy. You will operate with high autonomy, manage competing priorities, and translate ambition into systems that actually function. Success is not measured by activity. It is measured by outcomes, trust across partners, and real progress toward student mobility. The Executive Vice President of Workforce Pathways will be responsible for:
Partnership Ownership & Ecosystem Leadership
- Owning and managing relationships across a diverse partner ecosystem including schools, employers, unions, and public agencies.
- Building and maintaining accountability structures that ensure partners follow through on commitments.
- Aligning stakeholders with competing priorities and navigating political and operational complexity.
- Representing the initiative in governance settings and external forums.
- Building trust across stakeholders while maintaining a high bar for execution and accountability.
Program Strategy & Operations
- Designing and standing up core program infrastructure, including processes, systems, and operating rhythms.
- Owning the program calendar, including career exposure, work-based learning cycles, and key milestone events.
- Leading the matching process that connects students to apprenticeship and work-based learning placements.
- Overseeing external consultants and ensuring delivery against program goals and timelines.
- Identifying and removing friction in apprenticeship pathways, including navigating regulatory and system barriers.
Data, Accountability & Execution
- Building and maintaining dashboards tracking student participation, placements, and outcomes.
- Translating data and field insights into decisions that improve program effectiveness.
- Managing governance reporting and ensuring visibility into progress against goals.
- Driving measurable progress toward student participation and apprenticeship targets.
Systems Building & Landscape Development
- Serving as connective tissue across education, workforce, and employer systems.
- Assessing the broader landscape and identifying opportunities to strengthen pathways and partnerships.
- Building the long-term case for public adoption of this model.
- Helping define and codify what works so it can be replicated beyond Richmond.
We are excited about you because you…
Bring relevant, real-world experience
- Have at least five years of senior experience in workforce development, apprenticeship systems, economic mobility, or a related field, with a track record of operating at the partnership and systems level rather than only at the program level
- Built and executed complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with real ownership
- A working theory of what it takes to change economic outcomes for young people from high-poverty communities, and the intellectual humility to keep testing it
Know how to operate and get things done
- Think in systems and connect strategy to execution
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building structure from the ground up
- Thrive in high-autonomy environments with strong follow-through
- Anticipate challenges early and act before they escalate
Navigate people and partnerships with intention
- Manage relationships across institutions with different incentives
- Hold partners accountable while maintaining trust
- Communicate clearly across a wide range of stakeholders
Bring a builder’s mindset
- Prefer creating systems over maintaining the status quo
- Balance long-term vision with immediate execution needs
- Turn ideas into outcomes, not just plans
We’re especially excited if you’ve seen this work up close and bring:
- Direct experience with registered apprenticeships, building trades, or youth workforce programs
- Background in CTE, work-based learning, or school-to-career systems at the district or state level
- Relationships within the national workforce development, youth apprenticeship, or career-connected learning sectors
Compensation & Details
- Benefits include:
- 80% employer-covered health, dental, and vision
- Generous PTO policy
- Annual professional development budget
- 403(b) with up to 3% employer match
- As a 501(c)3 employer, REF qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
- This is a three-year, grant-funded role with significant opportunity for growth.
- This role is based in Richmond, Virginia with significant in-person engagement in and around Richmond, with occasional out-of-state travel.
- Target start date: Summer 2026.
A final word
This role exists to change what students see as possible. It is complex work, with real constraints and real stakes. You will be building systems while operating inside them, holding partners accountable while maintaining trust, and driving toward outcomes that matter.If you are someone who builds, not just advises, and you want to take on work where execution and impact are tightly linked, we would love to hear from you.
